What if São Paulo is eliminated? – 03/09/2024 – Juca Kfouri

It was decreed at Morumbis that based on São Paulo’s achievements in the Brazilian Cup and the Brazilian Super Cup, the team would once again become a rival for anyone.

Maybe it will be, as they have good players for the current national level.

But this Sunday (10) what is at stake is leagues away from your best dreams; It’s not about overcoming Corinthians, Palmeiras and Flamengo like in the Copa do Brasil. It is necessary to beat Ituano to avoid the risk of being surpassed by Novorizontino and São Bernardo, as their rival Corinthians was by Inter de Limeira and, perhaps, by Mirassol — nine apart from Bragantino, which is another 500.

Let’s face it, after 11 rounds, reaching the final round in such a situation makes post-title pride ridiculous.

Tricolor friends reported the indignation in zap groups when it was published here, a month ago, that nothing justified such optimism on the part of reveler President Julio Casares.

The team had just lost to Ponte Preta, in Campinas, and the column recalled that the difficulty of doing well away from home remained.

Yes, I had overcome the trauma of Itaquera, but being successful in visiting the Corinthians stadium became fashionable.

And the game on Sunday is in Itu…

Yes, São Paulo are favorites — although they are not favorites even with the presence of James Rodriguez, capable of changing the team’s level and performance, although still the object of justifiable distrust.

It is clear, to answer the question in the title, that if the least likely happens, hell will be as far from Morumbis as paradise, because Paulistinha is just Paulistinha.

It is only recommended, under any circumstances, to keep your feet on the ground, because, it is known, the greater the height, the greater the fall, especially if caused by the arrogance of those who are still far from the caviar and closer to the mortadella.

Which, by the way, is good for a popular club.

Obsessive and indignant

There are tireless journalists. Poor things.

Martín Fernandez, handsome columnist for O Globo, front-line reporter for Globo Sport, is one of them.

He hasn’t even reached 43 years of age yet and his youthful face contrasts with his lack of hair. He lost them largely thanks to being a militant obsessive — and if that wasn’t the case, he is now.

Obsessive because, imagine, he is unhappy with monsters like the Brazilian football calendar.

I look at him with admiration for his persistence. And it’s a shame. Very sorry.

Because I know exactly how it ends: with my hands bleeding from punching a knife.

Fifty years ago I already knew other journalists committed to the same issue, seeking to civilize the way football is played in Brazil.

I read Martín on Fridays and I’m sure he would prefer to write about the games he followed or those that are on the radar. But not.

He warns, he hits on truisms, all that remains is to ask for a minimum of common sense.

Well-informed, investigative, he knows that nothing is free, and yet he insists, hoping that someone will listen to him at the CBF, in the clubs, in the government.

One day, when you no longer have any hair — and remember that we don’t all necessarily go bald, some people start to have gastritis, that kind of thing —, and you see a new colleague adding your voice to his, you will understand perfectly what you read here — Pretentious as I am to have you as a rare reader.

Don’t stop, don’t stop, Martín!

LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access five free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.